Innersprings from China

AGENCY:

International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Institution and scheduling of an investigation under section 421(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2451(b)) (the Act).

SUMMARY:

Following receipt of a petition filed on January 6, 2004, on behalf of the U.S. member companies of The American Innerspring Manufacturers (AIM), Memphis, TN, the Commission instituted investigation No. TA-421-5, Innersprings from China, under section 421(b) of the Act to determine whether uncovered innerspring units (innersprings) from China are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products.

For further information concerning the conduct of this investigation, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 206, subparts A and E (19 CFR part 206), as amended, 68 FR 65164 (Nov. 19, 2003).

EFFECTIVE DATE:

January 6, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Allen (202-708-4728), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server ( http://www.usitc.gov ). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation in the investigation and service list. Persons wishing to participate in the investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The Secretary will prepare a service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.

Limited disclosure of confidential business information (CBI) under an administrative protective order (APO) and CBI service list. Pursuant to section 206.47 of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make CBI gathered in this investigation available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the investigation, provided that the application is made not later than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive CBI under the APO.

Hearing. The Commission has scheduled a hearing in connection with this investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on February 19, 2004, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Subjects related to both market disruption or threat thereof and remedy may be addressed at the hearing. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before February 10, 2004. All persons desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 a.m. on February 13, 2004, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Oral testimony and written materials to be submitted at the hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2) and 201.13(f) of the Commission's rules.

Written submissions. Each party is encouraged to submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. The deadline for filing prehearing briefs is February 12, 2004. Parties may also file posthearing briefs. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is February 24, 2004. In addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to the investigation may submit a written statement of information pertinent to the consideration of market disruption or threat thereof and/or remedy on or before February 24, 2004. Parties may submit final comments on market disruption on March 4, 2004, and on remedy on March 11, 2004. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain CBI must also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 68036 (November 8, 2002).

In accordance with section 201.16(c) of the Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on all other parties to the investigation (as identified by the service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.

Remedy. Parties are reminded that no separate hearing on the issue of remedy will be held. Those parties wishing to present arguments on the issue of remedy may do so orally at the hearing or in their prehearing briefs, posthearing briefs, or final comments on remedy.

Authority: This investigation is being conducted under the authority of section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974; this notice is published pursuant to section 206.3 of the Commission's rules.